Manicuring device



Dec. 21, 1943. R. R. HAWKlNs MANICURING DEVICE Filed June 16, 1942 #wikiI2 VEN Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANICURINGDEVICE Reginald R. Hawkins, Eastchester, N. Y.

Application June 16, 1942, Scrial'Nm 447,209

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a -new and useful device for treating andcleaning toe rand nger nails.

Nails are now cleaned and treated by means of the well-known nail les,orange-wood sticks, and other devices, but none of these devicesprovides a simple and efficient single means for also using Water, soap,and other cleansing materials under and around the nails, nor do any ofthem provide a convenient and simple means whereby a moderate amount offriction, such as is aorded by a washcloth in bathing the skin, may beused in cleaning the nails and the skin under them.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a simple, enlcient andconvenient means for A the application of soap, water, and othercleaning pastos, powders, and iiuids to the nails and to the skin underand around them as well as to provide a means of employing a mild amountof friction in nail cleaning operations.

Further objects, features, and advantages will more clearly appear froma consideration or" the specification which follows especially whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part ofthe specification and which illustrates a few preferred forms which theinvention may assume in actual practice.

Generally and in rather broad langauge, the invention comprises anail-treating element, conveniently shaped for handling and with one endshaped so that it may be introduced under the nail, which is designednot only for cleaning and scraping in the usual manner, but also tosupport and hold in an appropriate position an absorbent and cleaningelement such as a tape or strip of textile fabric or other suitablematerial that will take up cleaning powders, fluids, and pastes, andalso aiford the desired amount of friction in the cleaning operations.

In the particular form shown in the. drawing, the strip of material ismounted to extend longitudinally along the surface of the support. Inthis position it may lie in a longitudinal.' groove formed in thesupport. It extends over and around the tapered end portion and issubjected to a certain amount of tension by any suitable device to keepit in a desired stated of tension. Preferably the material may be movedfrom time to time to present a fresh clean portion of the strip over theend and this is continued until the entire strip is used up when it canbe removed and a clean strip put in its place..

Several forms of the invention are illustrated in the drawing, but ofcourse it is to be understood that these are merely for the purpose ofshowing i how the invention may be applied in practical forms. Otherforms may be employed as long as they come within the broad scope of theidea above mentioned.

In the drawing,`

Fign1 is a sidev elevation of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewthereoil Fig-3 is a vertical section taken on the.line 3-3 of Fig. 2

Fig.4 is a 'partial plan view, enlargedof the end of the device shown inFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig.V 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;v

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of another form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof; and,

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, through a still furthermodied form of the invention.

Considering the various forms of the invention set forth in the drawing,it will be seen in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, that I provide a main bodyportion I0 which is shaped generally similar to the shape of the usualorange-wood sticks and other nail cleaning and treating instruments andhas a preferably tapered and dat end II which is to be introduced underthe nail in ordinary circumstances to remove therefrom the dirt andother material which collects thereunder. In the present invention thisbody portion or support I 0 is provided with a longitudinal groove orrecess I Z, especially over the end, and this groove at the end isnumbered I3. In some instances the groove along the main body portionmay be omitted if desired. There is disposed and supported on the bodyportion I0 a strip or tape of narrow material such as I4 which may be oflinen, cotton, or any `other suitable material for the purpose ofexpediting the removal of matter from beneath the nail. Preferably thismaterial is of an absorbing nature and capable of producing rmildfriction when introduced under the nail. It is to be here noted that(see Fig. 4), the strip of cleaning material does not occupy the wholewidth of the front end of the device and that the side portions of thisend are curved and may be employed to scrape dirt from beneath the nailin the usual manner. Atv the same time it is to be noticed that thematerial is'of such thickness and the groove in which it lies is of suchVdepth dimension that the material extends at the end slightly beyondthe plane of the line passing across the front end of the support I 0.This will more efficiently allow the material to get in under the nailand remove all the dirt and to wash the skin under the nail thoroughly.

In use the pointed or tapered end of the de vice may rst be used byinserting the side portions of the end under the nail to remove dirt inthe usual manner. Then the end may be dipped into anysuitable liquiderpaste so as to wet the strip of absorbent material at the end thereofprovide a support made in two sections.

so as to enable the dirt and similar matter more readily to be removedfrom beneath the nail and at the same time causing the skin beneath thenail to be frictionally rubbed by the moist strip to cleanse the skin.

In order to place the material I4 under the proper tension on thesupport there is provided a resilient means such as a spring I5 which issuitably supported on the rear end of the support II) and over which thematerial is adapted topass and be thus kept under desired tension.Midway of the support I there is preferably disposed a split ring I6which in the position shown in Fig. will hold the strip in position onthe support but which when moved to a position at right angles to theindicated position will permit the material to be readily removed fromthe support. This ring is kept in position by a pair of projecting studsI'I and I8 disposed on opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 5 and 1.

In the operation of this form ci the invention, the material is dippedin a suitable liquid, paste, or powder and then the nails are treatedtherewith as above described. When the operation is completed thematerial may be moved by the iingers to present an adjacent portion ofthe strip over the end of the support I0 and thus dispose a clean pieceof the strip for successive cleansing operations. i Y Y In the modifiedform of the invention shown inV Figs. '7 and 8, the structure isessentially the same as before except that the ring is held in place bytwo ribs I9 and 2B and the material -may in this form be moved byoperating a roller 2| which maybe provided with a knurled' hand piecev22 and the material immediately adjacent thereto may pass under a smalltensioning roller v23. In other respects the structure is the sameas'before as well as the general operation.

In theV form shown in Fig. 9 the purpose is to The outer section 24 ismade of wood or similar material and the rear section may be made ofstronger and vmore durable material such as metal 25. l

The rear section is therefore provided with a socket 26 to receive therear end 21 of the front portion 24. This connection may be tapered or.not as shown but in either case it should result .in a snug iit. Thefront section therefore can be readily removed from time to time as thepoint wears out without the necessity of replacing the entire device. Inthis form of the invention the material may be tensioned by the samemeans as abovedescribed but it also may be tensioned by the modifiedform of the tensioning means shown 1 4which comprises a tube 23 snuglytted into the rear end of the socket Zt'and containing stem 29 the outerend of which supports a tensioning roller 3H to engage the material tokeep it under tension and this tension is created by the outwardpressure of a spring SI disposed in the tube 28 and pressing outwardlyagainst the stem and the roller 3E). r i

While the invention has been described in detail and with respect to themain and modiedV 'structures shown, it is not to be limited to such.details and modifications, since many changes and modifications may bemade without departing vfrom the spirit of the invention in its broadestaspects. Therefore it is not desired to'limit the invention to thedetails and modications shown except as the invention may be limited bythe scope of any one or more ofthe appended claims.

ns'y

. lated tension.

'around the central portion of the end of the element, and a strip ofabsorbent cleansing material disposed in said groove and extendingaround and over the end of the element.

3. In a manicuring device, an element having an end adapted to beinserted under the nail, said element having a longitudinal groovetherein, a strip of cleansing material disposed in said groove andextending around and over the end of the element. and spring means onsaid element and engaging the material to keep it in a state ofregulated tension.

4. In a manicuring device, an element having an end adapted to beinserted under the nail, said element having a longitudinal groovetherein, a strip of cleansing material disposed in said groove andextending around and over the end of the element, and manipulable meanson the element and engaging the strip to enable it to be moved topresent successive portions of the material over and around the end ofthe element.

5. In a manicuring device, an element having an end adapted to beinserted under the nail,

said element having a longitudinal groove therein, a strip of materialfor cleansing purposes disposed in said groove and extending around andover the end of the element, manipulable means on the element andengaging the strip to enable it to be moved to present successiveportions of the material over and around the end of the element, andspring means on said element and engaging the material to keep it in astate of regu- 6. In a manicuring device, an element having an endadapted to be inserted under the nail, said element comprising a fronttapered portion of non-metallic material, and a rear portion of,metallic material, the front portion being removably connected to therear portion, and a portion of cleaning material supported on saidelement and extending over the end thereof.

7. In a manicuring device, an elongated element having a grooved endadapted to be inserted under a nail, and a strip of material extendinglongitudinally around the periphery of said element and over the endthereof in said groove. y

8. In a manicuring device, an elongated element having a grooved endadapted to be inserted under a nail, and a continuous strip of materialextending longitudinally around the periphery of said element and overthe end thereof in said groove.

9. In a manicuring device, an elongated element having a Vgrooved endadapted to be inserted under a nail, a continuous strip of materialextending longitudinally around the periphery of said element and overthe end thereof in said groove, and adjustable means on said element andengaging the strip to permit movement of the strip to present newportions of the material over the end and to maintain the strip underregulated tension.

REGINALD R. HAWKINS.

